Spain bans use of safety triangle, introduces new solution

(Patria) - Spain wants to ban the safety triangle, which has served for almost a century to mark accident sites or places where a broken-down car is parked by the roadside.

From the beginning of next year, the use of a special flashing light will be mandatory on all motorways and expressways in Spain, writes ADAC, reports Autoklub.

The new portable flashing light replaces the warning triangle because, according to Spanish legislators, it brings a significant improvement in the safety of traffic participants.

The current warning triangle is considered dangerous by them, as in case of an accident or breakdown, drivers must leave their vehicle and move away from it to place the signal at a sufficient distance.

This creates dangerous situations, especially on motorways and in bad weather or heavy traffic, where another vehicle can hit the driver who is placing or preparing to place the triangle.

The new flashing light, known as the so-called V-16 warning light, has several advantages for both drivers and emergency services.

The biggest advantage is that drivers no longer have to move away from the vehicle, which significantly reduces the risk of an accident. Namely, the flashing light only needs to be placed on the roof of the broken-down vehicle or the vehicle involved in the accident.

The new flashing light is battery-powered and emits a yellow light that is easily noticeable and visible from a distance of up to one kilometer. This means that the vehicle should be clearly visible from afar, even in conditions of poor visibility such as fog, rain, or darkness.

In addition, new warning lights must have the ability to connect to the mobile network. When the device is activated, it automatically sends its location to emergency services every 100 seconds.

This feature enables a faster response in emergencies. However, only location data is transmitted, and the transmission stops as soon as the lights are turned off.

For tourists coming to Spain by car, nothing changes, as the new regulation will only apply to vehicles registered in Spain. However, tourists traveling in Spain in rental cars will have to have this device in their car.

The new regulations in Spain apply only to motorways and expressways. Warning triangles can still be used on ordinary intercity and city roads. However, even on these roads, the use of flashing lights is also recommended to increase safety.